Torches

The GT Weekend!

At Gracefully Truthful, weekends aren’t for “checking out”.
Use this time to invite the Almighty’s fullness into you life in a deeper way!
Saturdays and Sundays are a chance to
reflect, rest, and re-center our lives onto Christ.
Don’t miss the opportunity to connect with other women in prayer,
rest your soul in reflective journaling,
and spend time worshiping the Creator who
longs for intimacy with each of us!

Worship Through Journaling

Worship Through Journaling

1) The Christian beliefs that have shaped the Church today are first and foremost anchored heavily in Scripture, but they were also bravely fought for by brothers and sisters down through the ages who loved the Savior, honored God’s Word supremely, and therefore, refused to give ground to lies over truth. When we believe a lie, it changes the landscape of our lives. Perhaps imperceptibly at first, but over time, the lies we believe grow, quickly taking ground in our hearts. Where are you and I believing lies over truth? There is only one way to know: search the truths of Scripture and pray for the Spirit to convict your heart as you seek His. Do this with me, Sister!

2) As you read through Paula’s Journey from Wednesday, you may notice that many of the “new ideas” brought about by the brave believers in the Middle Ages are commonplace to us in our everyday. We can thank the steadfast Christ-followers of this era for holding so tight and fast to Scripture, believing the message of God to be for more than rituals and mindless Latin expressions. The Spirit of God prompted them to push the envelope on what was common in “religion”, what was “the way we do it” in church life, and we still feel the rippling effects of what the Lord did through them. What would it look like for you to re-evaluate your regular, everyday faith journey and even how you view church, and held it up to the Scriptures? Where is God inviting you to carry His torch of truth?

3)Luther boldly nailed a document to the door of his local church body because he cared more about following Jesus and holding tight to the truth of Scripture than he did his own comfort or popularity. What if we all, as Christ-followers, truly loved the Church as a whole and each of our brothers and sisters in Jesus with that kind of love? A love that called out truth, but did it with grace. Who do you know who needs you to come alongside, offering truth and grace? Where do you need it? Write “truth and grace” in a place you will see it often this weekend as a reminder of how desperately we all need them both, then commit to living it!

Praying Scripture back to the One who wrote it in the first place is a great way to jump start our prayer-life! Pray this passage from 1 John 1:6-7 back to the Lord and
let His Spirit speak to you through it!

If we say we have fellowship with Him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Prayer JournalSpirit! How deeply I need Your conviction! How often I need Your reminder to cling to truth and apply Your teaching in my everyday life! Convict my oft’ wandering heart of my sin, let me see it plainly. Fill my heart so abundantly with Your overwhelming love for others that I literally ache with pain to see another walking in darkness.
Give me boldness, like all those brothers and sisters who have gone before me, to love with grace and truth. Here in the precious place where Your blood covers our sin, Jesus, is sweet unity with one another and You. Lead Your Bride here, Abba Father! Bind us together in Your strong Name!

16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith.

Original Intent

1) What does Paul mean when he says he is “not be ashamed of the Gospel”?Paul begins these verses with a bold declaration and sets the stage for the entire letter. Paul writes this to a Roman audience, who are mainly Gentiles. The gospel Paul believes is one where the God-man was put to death as a criminal, taking the punishment we deserve for sin, and was exalted as Savior after rising from His own grave. The entire gospel hinges on the truth of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Paul’s gospel is one that was ridiculed and laughed at. Paul had many reasons to be ashamed from a worldly perspective, yet he’s not. Paul knew the truth of the Gospel. He knew Jesus, what He had done, and the salvation His sacrifice offers. Matthew Henry states in his commentary, “Paul is not ashamed of the gospel, how mean and contemptible it may appear to a carnal eye; for the power of God works by it the salvation of all that believe; it shows us the way of salvation, and is the great charter by which salvation is conveyed and made over to us.” As a result, Paul lived a life completely unashamed of his Savior and the Lord’s message of hope, no matter what came his way. Expositor’s Bible Commentary notes, “Thus with a pointed fitness he tells himself and his friends, just here, that he is “not ashamed of the Gospel.” For I am not ashamed; I am ready even for Rome, for this terrible Rome. I have a message which, though Rome looks as if she must despise it, I know is not to be despised.” Paul chose to live his life completely for Jesus because he truly understood the gift offered through Him

2) Why is salvation first for the Jew and then for the Gentile?Paul makes a point of stating how the gospel is “first” for the Jew and “then” for the Gentile. God originally established a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15). Through this covenant, the Jewish people became God’s people. Jesus descended through the line of Abraham and was born of a Jewish woman and into a Jewish family. God remained faithful to the promise made to Abraham even though His people constantly showed unfaithfulness in return. They were the people to whom God had promised a Savior. However, once their Savior came, many didn’t recognize Him. They thought their Savior would be a world rule and overthrow the oppression of the Romans against the Jews. Instead, Jesus came to set all human beings free by His willingness to take our punishment for our sin, effectively paying the price for our freedom. Salvation through Jesus did indeed come “first” for the Jews, they were the people God had chosen through history to be His chosen ones, the special people through whom would descend the Savior. But this Savior was for all. Jesus had come not just for the Jew, but for all mankind. In this verse, Paul places both Jews and Gentiles on the same playing field. He points out all are fallen, all are in need of saving, and all can be rescued by placing their faith solely in Christ. Jesus came for both!

3)What does it mean that the “righteous will live by faith”?No one other than God alone is righteous. Paul tells us in Romans 3:23 that all have sinned. There is not a human that has lived who blamelessly risen to the standard of God’s flawless, holy, righteousness, except Jesus. The gospel we find in the Bible clearly shows how unrighteous we are and how righteous God is. However, the choice Jesus made on Calvary to take on Himself the punishment for sin, which is death even though He was perfect and deserved no consequences, allows for forgiveness and righteousness for all mankind. Paul shares the avenue by which this righteousness becomes available… it is through faith in Christ and nothing else. Only by claiming Christ’s righteousness as our own, which He offers freely as a gift to us, taking our sin and shame for us, are we made alive for eternity.

Everyday Application

1) What does Paul mean when he says he is “not be ashamed of the Gospel”?Paul lived his life completely sold out for the Gospel. No matter what the cost, he repeatedly chose Jesus. For Paul, living a life not ashamed meant persecution by flogging, being stoned, shipwrecked, and imprisoned, yet he never stopped sharing the Gospel (2 Corinthians 11:23-26). Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus and his life changed forever. Once he encountered the Living God, he spent his life living for that Savior. Whether it was traveling on mission to share the Gospel or writing letters from prison, Paul never became ashamed. We can learn from this example. Often times as believers we allow our fear and insecurity to take control and in those moments, we convey a shame of the precious gospel. The opposite should be true of the life of a believer. Like Paul, we should live unashamed of the gospel of Jesus. We should trust God and lean into Him in those moments of fear and insecurity, choosing to boldly share the truth of the gospel just as Paul did. The gospel we believe in is living and active and truer than anything else. God calls us to live a life that is unashamed of the Gospel, no matter the consequences, just as Paul exemplified.

2) Why is salvation first for the Jew and then for the Gentile?God entered into a covenant with Abraham in Genesis. This covenant promised Abraham that a people would come from his lineage, a chosen people, called out by the Almighty to proclaim Himself to the world. These descendent would be uncountable. God kept His promise and the Jews were God’s people. However, because Jesus came not just for the Jews, but also for the Gentiles, Abraham’s lineage continues even farther to include all who call on the name of Jesus for salvation. Just as the disciples turned their attention to the Jew and Gentiles world, obeying Jesus’ commandment to share the gospel and make disciples of all nations, so are we called to do the same. No language, nation, people group, or race should be beyond our willingness to share. Since Jesus came for all peoples, we can rest assured we share just as much in the promise of the Gospel as the Jews, while also having just as much responsibility to extend this gospel to all that Paul and the first disciples did. God loves all of us just as much as He does the Jews and we are all equally as desperate for a Savior as they are. Who can you extend this amazing hope of the gospel to?!

3) What does it mean that the “righteous will live by faith”?I am not righteous on my own merit, no one is. Since Adam and Even sinned (Genesis 3), people have continued to be born sinners with a sinful nature. Sin is not something we simply do, it is who we are. We are corrupted sinners. Our nature is dead to righteousness and holiness. Although we are unrighteous, God is always righteous and just. His justice requires payment for my sins. Thankfully, Jesus came and took my punishment upon Himself, even though I am underserving of it. Romans 6:23 tells of the gift of Jesus, which is eternal life. Did you catch that… it is a gift, freely given. However, for my unrighteousness to be forgiven and for me to receive this gift, I must place my faith in Jesus. John 14:6 assures us there is no other way. Matthew Henry explains this verse by saying, “While God is a just and holy God, and we are guilty sinners, it is necessary we should have a righteousness wherein to appear before him; and, blessed be God, there is such a righteousness brought in by Messiah the prince and revealed in the gospel; a righteousness, that is, a gracious method of reconciliation and acceptance, notwithstanding the guilt of our sins.” We must accept Jesus and all He has done for us. Only through that faith does Christ give us righteousness. My faith (and yours) in Jesus makes me right with God nothing else. We then live righteous by faith. The question is, are we walking in that truth?

What do YOU think?! Share Here!Missing the connection to our other Journey Study?Catch up with Torches Of Truth!

Digging Deeper is for Everyone!

1) Take this passage (or any other passage).2) Read it, and the verses around it,
several times3) Write down your questions
as you think of them.4) Ask specific culture related questions and be ready to dig around for your answers. Google them, use www.studylight.org, or look them up in a study Bible and read the footnotes (click on the little letters next to a word and it will show you
other related verses!). (www.esvbible.org)5) Check your applications with other trusted Christians that you are in community with and embrace the fullness of God
in your everyday!

Study Tools

We love getting help while we study andwww.studylight.org is one of many excellent resources, providing the original Hebrew (Old Testament) or Greek (New Testament) with an English translation.

Want to know more about a specific word in a verse? Click on “Strong’s Interlinear Bible” then click the word you’d like to study. Discover “origin”, “definition” and hear the original pronunciation – That Is Awesome!

Want more background? Click “Study Tools”, then pick a few commentaries to read their scholarly approach, keeping in mind that just because a commentary says it, doesn’t mean it’s true. (just like the internet :-))

Memorize It!

Download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!
Tap and hold on your mobile device to save.

Read His Words Before Ours!

Throughout Christendom, God has always held forth His torches of truth. He called out faithful men to pull drifting doctrine back to the cross-centered gospel while addressing the questions of their time with truth, grace and clarity. He ignited them through the Holy Spirit to use their giftings to reach their world for Christ. Buried in the ashes of decadence, power grasping, and apostasy that marked the church of the Middle Ages, lay those glowing embers of pure, authentic faith.

One of those glowing coals of Christendom is Augustine of Hippo. Though he lived in the Age of Antiquities, Augustine was clearly a man ahead of his time. Considered by many as the first medieval man, his life and ministry form the bridge between the Age of Antiquities and the Early Middle Ages.

His astounding intellect was put to use with stylus and parchment as a prolific author on subjects ranging from deep doctrinal issues to human sexuality. His ability to clearly articulate doctrinal issues like original sin, the atonement, grace, predestination and the freewill of man are unmatched. His countless writings also form the foundation for many theologians and philosophers including Anselm of Canterbury, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther and even theologians of modern times. Because Augustine wrote abundantly throughout his life, his writings show an evolution of thought. This explains why theologians ranging from Catholics to Evangelical Protestants quote widely from the anthology of his works. For example, his writings on the Eucharist and Sacraments still form much of the doctrinal stance in Catholicism, while his writings upon grace, the atoning sacrifice of Christ and original sin are popular among even modern-day Protestants.

As a young man, searching for something to fill his restless spirit, he took a deep-dive into religion and scholarly pursuits. In the course of time, he crossed paths with Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, whose kindness and clear teaching led Augustine to Christ. Confessions is the story of his conversion to Christianity. Following his conversion, Augustine returned to North Africa and took up the monastic life where he continued to write abundantly.

In the age of Augustine, Rome was in decline as a superpower and was overrun by the Visgoths. Many saw the downfall of Rome as the end of civilization and were certain the Apocalypse was imminent. Barbarian tribes marauded their way across Europe leaving bloodshed, famine and disease in their wake. Augustine’s work, City of God, assured Christians that, despite the upheaval around them, God’s kingdom could never be destroyed.

The Middle Ages was a time marked by the Catholic Church rising in prominence as the unifying force in the West. As power coalesced in the crown and the church hierarchy, so did the pull of spiritual apathy and moral decadence. Just as Christ sends His church into any era to answer the resounding questions and right its wrongs, so He sent the church into the Middle Ages. The questions burned in the hearts of the devout and whispered in the stone-walled monasteries:
“Is this truly the gospel-centered life?”
“How does what I see and hear around me match with Scripture?”
“What does Christ and His cross call us to—really?”

Anselm of Canterbury was also a man of astounding intellect and is most noted for his philosophical treatises and so-called ontological argument. InProslogion, he articulates through logic, the existence of God. With human reason held in high regard, Anselm answered the call of his age with both human reasoning, philosophical prowess and theological integrity.

Unlike bishops before him, Anselm refused to acquiesce to the pressure of the crown. Although the King of England continuously sought Anselm’s sanctions for his corruption, his attempts failed. William II expected the church to serve under his authority and as an extension of his administration. Anselm’s refusal caused sharp division, and the on-going demands grieved him deeply. As a result, Anselm twice appealed to the Pope to be relieved of his post. The Pope refused and William II banished Anselm from England. During his exile, he wrote one of the most important treatises in church history— Cur Deus Homo (Why the God-Man?) In this work, Anselm articulates the need for the incarnation, once again making his appeal through logic.

Francis of Assisi is best known as the founder of the Franciscan Order and for his love of nature, celebrated in his work Canticle of the Sun. However, the incongruity between the Church and the teachings of Scripture grieved him. Wealth and apathy filled the church at large, yet the apostles called for simplicity and obedience to the teachings of Christ. His grievances sparked action that became radical obedience to the teachings of Christ. Though never ordained as a priest, he often preached five times daily. He taught commoners of a personal relationship with Christ. He also taught his followers to pray in their native tongue rather than in Latin, both foreign ideas in that era. Many of the Franciscan Brothers traveled widely, preaching this gospel of personal relationship with Christ, prayer, simplicity and service, fanning the flames of revival across Europe. In a culture gone stone-cold through religion, where personal relationship with Christ and personal prayer were radical concepts, God sent this humble servant. By preaching truth and simple obedience Assisi challenged his world, pointing many to Christ, and making an impact even today!

In every age, whether following the fall of a super-power or in an era riddled with moral corruption where spiritual indifference and cold religion run rampant, God preserves His flickering flames of genuine believers. These true followers always burst back flame as they obediently choose Christ over their comfort zones.

The word of God is still alive, active and powerful!
As often as the Holy Spirit comes like a rushing wind,
igniting the glowing embers of the faithful,
the flames of revival can burn through us once again.
God is still on His throne and the gates of hell cannot prevail against His Church.

Embracing God’s fullness in our lives is rooted in scripture and memorizing His word is vital to our continued growth and depth with Jesus. Tap and hold from your mobile device to download this week’s verse and make it your phone’s lockscreen!

Thanks for joining us today as we journeyed into Ignite Week Two! Don’t miss out on the discussion below – we’d love to hear your thoughts!